Combination baggage rack and lighting fixture



`A118- 31 1937- c. H. LARsoN Er Ar. 2,091,599

COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Q q R M. M /w 1 19101 @ha @10. @w mm, NH. .m f \mw www ww w NW, QN m w@ N Aug. 3l, 1937. c..H. LARsN Er A1.

COMBINATION B AGGAG RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 13, 1936 Aug- 31, 1937- c. H. LARsoN E-r AL 2,091,599

COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 13,. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED sTATEs- COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND nonr- ING FIXTURE Carl H. Larson,

Elkhart, ma., John I.. Mohun,

Chicago, Ill., and Christian M. Verhagen, Elkhart, Ind., assignors Elkhart, Ind.,

AApplication April 13,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to baggage racks for railway c ars, busses, and the like, and some of the more important objects of the invention are as follows: To provide 'a rack which is made up of readily assembled units; to combine a lighting fixture with the rack in such a manner that not only is proper lighting effected, but the appearance of the rack as a whole is greatly improved; to provide means for obtaining access to the lighting xture Without completely disassembling the rack; and to construct the wall bracket andf rack unit in such a way positioning of the bracket are accommodated withoutbeing apparent to persons within the car. A

Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

. Fig. 2 is .a vertical, transverse,

taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of -Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken on the line vIl--ll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the wall bracket with the `cover lifted and parts broken away to expose the interior of the bracket;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the and sectional view rack unit;

Fig. "7 is a perspective view of theend bracket for the baggage rack.

It will be understood that the choice of a. particular embodiment of the invention for illustration and'description is for the purpose of complying with Sec. 4888 of the Revised Statutes with respect to disclosure, but the appended claims are not to be limited to the construction shown and described, unless the prior art requires that interpretation.

Referring the rack consists of a plurality of rack units I0 (see also Fig. 6), end pieces II, (see also Fig. '1),

and aplurality of intermediate wall brackets,

generally designated I2, the latter serving the double functionA of supporting the rack units l0 Aand containing lighting xtures for illuminating the car interior.

The rack units I0 (Fig, 6) comprise a plurality of parallel supports I3, in the present case tubes, the ends of which' are rigidlyI secured to right and left section castings I4 and I5, respectively,

which may be called the baggage supporting elethat slight variances in the first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that to The Adlake Company,

a corporation of Illinois i936, serial No. '14,004 (ciau-29,5)

ment end pieces. The two castings are similar, and each is provided with a plurality of openings I6 into -which vthetubes are fitted and held in place by aring over the ends of the tubes, as shown at I'I in Fig.' 3. The castings are provided 5 with a small outwardly extending ange I8 along their bottom, forward and top margins', the ange along the top margin, however, being slightly wider and provided with ears I9 adapted to overlap the wall brackets I2 to enable the 10 unit to be secured to the bracket. Elongated slots 20 in the ears I9 accommodate slight variances in the positioning of the wall bracket, as will be later described in more detail.

The section castings I4 and I5, as well as the 15 tubes, are preferably made of aluminum, although other material may, of course, be used.

The end piece II (Fig. 7) consists of an aluminum casting which, in general, has a shape coresponding to the section castings I4 and yI5. 20 Assuming that the end piece is for the right end of the rack (as shown in Figs. 2 and 7) it will be seen that the section casting I4 is adapted to interfit with the end piece, with the top andv bottom portions of the marginal ange I8 resting 25 upon the top andbottom flanges 2l and 22, respectively, of. the end piece, and small cap screws 23 @passing through the elongated slots 20 in the section casting I4 and' tapped holes 24'in the flange 2 I, secure the# rack unit in place on the 80 -end piece. Y

It will be noticed in Fig. 2 that there is a clearance 25 between the section casting I4 and the end piece II which enables slight variances in the positioning of the end piece II to be accom- 35 modated, and at the same time, the bottom iiange 22 of the end piece masks the spacing of .the rack unit II) fromthe end piece.

The end piece is secured to the car wall by suitable fastening means, as for example, maj- 40 chine screws 26.

The wall brackets I2'each comprise a box housing 21 which extends substantially the full width of the rack, the top of the housing being closed by a cover 28 and the bottom by a light-trans- 45 mitting wall or bowl 29. The housing is preferably cast in aluminum, and has outwardly extending side ledges 30 upon which the anges I8 of the adjacent rack units I0 or the downwardly'facing surfaces thereof 'are adapted to rest. 50 (See Fig. 2.) The upper enlarged portion of each vend piece I4,l I5, or the downwardly facing surface thereof, is adapted to rest upon the top wall f of the housing, which constitutes a supporting ledge, with the ears I9 mating -I with lugs 3l 55 formed on the housing or on a transverse member thereof connecting the side walls of the housing. The lugs have tapped holes 32 for receiving cap screws 33 which also pass through the elongated slots 20 in the ears I9 to hold the rack unit I0 in adjusted position on the wall bracket. As in the case of the end piece II, the ledges 30 on the wall brackets l2 mask the spacing of the rack units I0 from the bracket so that viewed from below, the rack has a neat appearance.

Within the housing 21 are lamp units 34, 35 and 36, the rst two being used for ordinary lighting and controlled by a switch 31 and the smaller unit 36 being used as a night light under the control of the car attendant from a remote point. Thelamp units 34 and 35 are supported in the housing by angle brackets 38 and 39, respectively, which are secured to one of the side walls of the housing by small nuts and bolts 40. Preferably, the lamp units 34 and 35, are slightly out of axial alignment so as to provide suitable clearance for-the lamp unit 36 and allow thebulbs of any one to be removed without interference from either of the other bulbs within the housing.

The bowl 29 is removably secured in the housing and comprises a molded translucent glass dish having slightly flared side walls 4l and end lips 42, the forward one of which is adapted to rest on the oor of the housing 21 (see Fig. 4) (preferably a small gasket 43 is interposed between the lip and the housing) and the other upon a retaining strip 44 which is removably secured to the housing by small screws 45 entering lugs 46 formed on the iioor of the housing 21.

In other words, the bowl is. assembled with the housing by rst'inserting the forward edge through the opening in the lower wall of the bracket and allowing the forward lip to rest on the floor of the housing and then the rear lportion of the bowl is raised into position and held in place by the retaining strip 44. In order to insure that the bowl 29 will not rattle within the bracket, rubber strips 41 are secured to the A plurality of binding posts 5l are fastened to the rear wall of the housing 21 and a pair of openings 5I on each side of the -housing and in axial alinement with' the two rear tubes of the rack units (see Figs. 3, 5, and 6) enable the necessary wiring to pass through the rack units obscured from the sight of passengers.

Access to the interior of the bracket is obtained through the cover 28 which is hinged to the housing21, as indicated at 52, and overlaps the top ange of the adjacent section castings (see Fig. 2). 'Ihe cover is provided with a closed rubber gasket' 53 which, when the cover is secured in place by the thumb screw 54, positively insures that no light will leak out through the housing to cause undesirable lights and shadows.

To increaseA the eifectiveness ofthe lighting, the cove 28 is equipped with a pair of reiiectors 55 suita 1y spaoedfromibeoover by brackets 56, as best shown in Fig. 4.

From the above description, it will be seen that access to the lighting unit may be obtained by -merelyunscrewingthethumbscrewuand openingthecoverandthatincasethewall bracket must be removed for repair of the xtures, the removal may easily b e effected by merely taking oif the adjacent rack units and then unscrewing the screws 51 which hold the bracket to the wall.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a baggage rack, a pair of adjacent units each comprising a baggage supporting element, an end piece connected to the adjacent ends of said elements, each end piece comprising a subs'tantially vertical wall. and including downwardly .facing surfaces vertically spaced apart, and a wall bracket including upper ledges 'overlapped by ,the upper ofv said surfaces andlower ledges overlapped by the lower of said-surfaces, certain of said ledges supporting said end pieces and each of said lower ledges masking the gap between the adjacent unit and Vertical wall.

2. In a baggage rack, a pair of adjacent units each comprising a baggage supporting element, an end piece connected to the adjacent ends of said elements, each end piece comprising a substantially vertical Wall and including downwardly facing surfaces vertically spaced apart, a wall bracket including upper ledges overlapped by the upper oi said surfaces and lower ledges overlapped by the lower of said surfaces, and means securing the end pieces to said upper ledges, each of said lower ledges masking the gap between the adjacent unit and vertical wall.

'3.' In a baggage rack, a pair of adjacent units each comprising a baggage supporting element, an end piece connected to the adjacent ends of said elements, each end piece comprising a substantially vertical wall and including downwardly facing surfaces vertically spaced apart, a wall bracket including upper ledges overlapped by the upper of said surfaces and'lower ledges overlapped by the lower of said surfaces, and means connecting the end pieces to the upper ledges of the bracket in any of a plurality of adjusted degrees of separation of the end pieces and bracket, said lower ledges masking the gap between. the adjacent unit and vertical wall.

4. In a baggage rack, a plurality of units each comprising a baggage supporting element, an endcluding oppositely directed, vertically spaced, up-

wardly facing ledges extending longitudinally of the bracket and transversely of the rack, each ledge being overlapped by a portion of an end piece whereby each bracket, including certain oi' its ledges', masks the gap between adjacent units.

5. In a baggage rack, a plurality of units each comprising a baggage supporting element, an end piece connected to each opposite end of each element, a plurality of wall brackets each including oppositely directed, vertically spaced, up-

wardly facingledges extending longitudinally of the bracket and transversely of the rack, each ledge being overlapped by a portion of ar end piece, whereby'the bracket,. including the ledges, masks the gap between the end pieces or adja- -cent units, and means connecting the end pieces mamamyt'aerunmngtnofmdwsusmd baggage supporting units each including an endv piece having a lower surface substantially as long as said ledges, overlying the ledge of one of said 5 side walls and masked thereby, and having a flange outwardly directed from its upper portion overlying and connected to the upper portion of A said side wall.

'1. In a baggage rack, a wall bracket compriswall in any of a plurality of adjusted degrees oi' A'separation of the end piece and bracket. 25 8. Ina baggage rack,' a wall bracket comprising a box housingincluding vertically spaced top and bottom walls, ,spaced apart metal side walls. vmetal end walls connecting the side walls and M preventing separation thereof, outwardly directed 3o side ledges carried by the lower portions of the side walls and extendingv substantially the full length of said walls, and baggage supporting ,units each including an end piece ofl substantially the same width as said side walls, mounted ad- 35 jacent Aone of said side walls, and having a lower surface substantially as long as said ledges, over-L 44lapping thegledge of said side wall and masked 9. In a baggage rack, a plurality of wall housing having means at one end for connecting tbe'bracket to a wall and having relatively deep horizontally spaced side wall members and elements in separation of` adjacent brackets,.said securing means being positioned above a portion of thel overlying and supported on thel upper'A portion cil-said side wall. and means connecting said flange and the 'upper portion of said side position. bracket elements each comprising a hollow ,box

a transverse member connecting vthe side wall members and holding the same in spaced relation. baggage rack felements supported on the bracket on opposite sides thereof, and means securing the baggage rack'elements to the bracket any ofthe plurality of degrees of bracket whereby. said portionof the bracket conceals the securing' means from the view of a person below the level of thel rack, and eachsecuring means comprising a part movable with relation to at least one of said elements.

10. In a baggage rack, a plurality of wall' brackets .each comprising -a member having a `substantially horizontal surface normally concealed from view from below the-rack, baggage rackunits supported on the bracket on opposite sides thereof, and means securing the units to the bracket in any of a pluralityof degrees of separation vof adjacent brackets, said securing means comprising an adjustable pin and slot de- '-.vice. one part of said device being carried by the named surface of the bracket and 'tbe otherpart being carried by the adjacent unit.

l1. In a baggage rack, a plurality o f wall brackets each comprising a member having a substantially horizontal surface normally con-. cealed from view from vbelow e rack, baggage rack units supported on the bracket o n opposlte sides thereof, means securing the units to the bracket inany of a plurality of degrees of separation of adjacent brackets, said securing means comprising an adjustable pin and slot device, one partof said devicebeing carried by the named surface of the bracket and the other part being carried by the adjacent unit, and means for locking the pin fcA'aL H. .roms L. Morrow.

and slot device. in `adjusted CHRISTIAN M. VERHAGEN. 

